Some of the best short stories for students to study come from D H Lawrence. D H Lawrence, famous English writer of short stories, novels and poetry, may have been a coal miner’s son, but he also carried the aspirations of a mother who came from a more educated middle class background. His perspective on working class life in England at the turn of the century is therefore particularly interesting. Not only was he writing about the rise of a new educated and self-made class through the ranks of English society, but he was about to make the transition himself.

Through his productive writing career which encompassed the writing of short stories, travel pieces, novels, plays, critical pieces and poetry, readers can trace the development of one of the most consummate short story and novel writers in English literary history.

READ AND STUDY SHORT STORIES ON THE GO WITH YOUR IPAD

In the Collected Short Stories of D H Lawrence therefore it is particularly pleasing to note the chronological way in which the stories are laid out. Serious students of David Herbert Lawrence will easily be able to identify the the early signs of genius which marked the dawning of a great new writing talent. Morever, they will then be able to track the maturing style and writing proficiency of a writer who delivered one cracking, observational story after another.

Sixty seven short stories are gathered together in this one collection, making an ideal selection of D H Lawrence short stories for students. In addition to style development, another element that can easily be studied is the author’s art in evoking mood and atmosphere through setting. From the typically English coal mining town setting of Lawrence’s childhood, to the ore exotic locations of his travelling years, the stories always involve close observation and sharp interpretation of human behaviour or interaction with the world. From the minutiae of everyday life to the more sublime reflections on existence, Lawrence held up a mirror in which readers could see themselves or others traversing the path of life and human relationships.

For example, in “Odour Of Chrysanthemums” a coal miner’s wife comes face to face with her real feelings and true emotions on hearing the news of her husband’s death in a pit accident. In “The Prussian Officer,” the most primeval elements of enforced submission, hatred, domination and cruelty are revealed through the controlling or murderous thoughts and actions of two contrasting male subjects.

This is therefore an excellent choice as a volume of short stories for students. They will be able to track the course of a great writer’s life and observe the effect each new stage had on the direction and themes of his writing. Another seminal work on the writings of this literary genius is the expensive but expert 'Major Short Stories of D H Lawrence.' Any student studying the author in such depth and his stories from so many angles must surely end up an expert himself!